——————We continue our series of
interviews: this time the chosen “victim” who is Andrea, singer and
guitarist of The Manges, but also the founder of the Veterans. In light of the
upcoming releases for his second band – or rather studio-project – we decided
to contact him for a friendly talk. Happy reading![ANDREA] – Aloha Andrea, how are you? All’s Quiet on the Eastern Front?[ANDREA MANGES] –Well, thank you. I keep myself busy!
[A] – After several years of silence, finally there will be new material by The Veterans. What can we expect from these two new 7”s?[AM] – We have 4 new songs ready! From these upcoming releases, there will be more and
more alternative rock, pop and all kinds of influences. These 4 new songs are
perhaps a bit more punk, but there’s a cover of Jan & Dean, and I would say
that as a genre we have not strayed far from our first record.

[A] – What is the line-up? Also this time will there be “illustrious”
guests?
[AM] – We went to the studio and me and Alex were the ones who have the project in
hand as main creators, with Toro, the same drummer all time, because he is very
good and is a friend. At the bass we decided to call Ally of the Teenage Bubblegums because we worked with her band and we were very comfortable with
her. Distinguished guests on guitar solo Stefanino of Tough and Gardo of the Psycho Surfers. Then there’s Perry Leenhouts, the lead singer of the Travoltas,
who gave us the honor to put his vocals on 3 songs. The project Veterans owes
much to the Travoltas, it does not take much to figure it out, so for us the
participation of Perry has an important meaning.

[A] – The big news was the use of Crowdfunding. How did this idea come to be for
the Veterans? Can you explain in brief how it works Musicraiser?

[AM] – I like to try something new, I liked the fact that we in the band had total
control of the project, from writing the songs to ship the package with the
records and merchandise. Musicraiserworks like KickStarter or other
crowdfunding sites, but is specific to the music and is a site born in Italy.
If they approve your project, you have a certain period of time to be supported
and if you reach the goal they give you the money to realize the project
however, if you fail eachone recovers his money.. All or nothing. We have paid
a good part of the pressing two of the 7″s and merchandise. Obviously
those who support you are rewarded with records, merchandise, or other ”
rewards” that are established by the artist. We decided to be simple and
mostly we did a presale, a bit ‘more original than usual.

[A] – I have read many articles debating the use of crowdfunding saying things
like: crowfunding = alms. For small-medium enterprises (such as it occurred for
the Veterans) I think it is a valuable tool, but what I find ridiculous the
“exaggerated” and indiscriminate use by other artists, even going
overboard, offering even a Skype call or an exclusive appetizer… What do you
think?
[AM] – I think the same as you, and in fact I avoided to include in the project
“rewards” so squandered or in bad taste. I don’t know if the
crowdfunding is the future for independent music, but today it is one of the
many systems available through the web, and we have decided a lot with the logic
of the old DIY approach, addressing directly to the fans but also to the small
labels and distributors which are the basis of our scene. At the end, with the
utmost transparency, a Finnish label bought one of the packages that I had
prepared and for a reasonable cost got to be the only label to put their logo
on two our records. And we have total control with many copies already
distributed.[A] – Something that relies completely on the fan like crowdfunding could turn
out to be a flop but it was a great success: many Raisers from all over the
world have supported the project, allowing you to reach 116% of the
estabilished amount. Are you satisfied? What would happen in the case where the
sum had not been reached? Would the songs end up on the back burner?
[AM] – Surely we are satisfied, very happy with the confidence so many people have
shown us… that removed the fear of not making it there. It was really nice
because while we were promoting musicraiser we were in contact with a lot of
friends. Many labels were held back by not being able to get the discs
“exclusive” for them, and I can understand that because the market is
so small now. Being in the possession of too many copies of a disc that has
already been ordered by many people directly to the group can be a risk. If the
crowdfunding had gone wrong, I would have given the songs, to some labels
(there were affected), or I would have released them directly myself to the
fans. I didn’t want to lose these songs and eventually, this was the way it all
worked out.[A] – Last questions about your side-projects: would there be an opportunity in
the future for new shows with the tribute band It’s Alive? Any chance to see
the Veterans live? (Ok, it’s a question you got done 1000 times, but for the
record … it’s up to me as well)[AM] – It’s Alive, I do not know … being that The Mangesand Hervè are always very
busy and the cover band is beautiful as a small “happening” to us,
but do covers full-time seems a bit lame. The Veterans are not a real band, I
see them more as a studio project in which to involve different musicians every
time, always under the “direction” of me and Alex. And no, for the
moment there is no plan to put that on stage. But I’d like to continue to put
out music and merchandise.

[A] – I personally have a love/hate relationship with the labels as a
“working with passion and attitude” – true with great difficulty –
there are very few like this. Having crowdfunding and STRIPED punk rock shop,
do you think The Manges really need a label for further work?
[AM] – Often we are disappointed by the labels we work with, and we are concentrating
more and more Manges affairs in our hands (for example, we are releasing the
contract with the Kid Tested to recover “Rocket To You“), but to make
things right we always need a little support. The Veterans have a limited
audience but it is still a big effort to manage. For Manges, of course we are
able to produce and distribute by ourself at every level, STRIPED is going very
well, but I won’t exclude that we will work with other labels in the future.

[A]
– From the first demo until the split with the Apers: twenty years full of
records, gigs, tours and many satisfactions that brought you to be, without a
doubt, the spokesmen for the Italian punk rock in the rest of the world. In
addition to a praise worthy dedication to the cause, what you think could have
been the key points that gave the “turning point” in your career? Was
there ever a time, when you thought that the adventure with Mangeswas going to
end?
[AM] – Oh yes, It’s twenty years now. Well honestly we were very young in 1993, 16/18
years old, and in the scene we were marginal even though we were among the
first to be noticed and to get out seven inches and more. We were lucky because
pop punk exploded shortly after we started the Manges, but we found ourselves
with already far too much attention on us when we were still learning to play.
I believe that from 1996 onwards, and even more markedly since 1997 when we
came back from London, we started to differentiate and influence a bit also the
other Italian bands. Then the choice of staying on the edge of the scene and do
not try to insert ourselves within the circle of the “big fishes”. This has paid many years later in terms
of consistency and respect on the part of the scene. We were also lucky to be
covered by Screeching Weasel in 2000 and still to have a lot of sympathizers
abroad. It ‘s also true that we worked hard and thrown ourselves around Europe
and the U.S., leaving behind jobs and safeties, so it was also a bit deserved.
Sometimes we had the impression that it was going to end, but actually now I do
not think that we will stop anytime soon. We are now a family, and the passion
for writing songs, making up stories, talk about music, books, movies and
traveling together there goes more. We are writing a new album in these months,
so I feel part of a group on ball, it’s no a reunion, we never stopped. Unlike
other bands, we kept the pace low and constant, and so we never broke. Now
looking back 20 years seems like many, but it was not hard, they are just
passed very quickly.

[A] – Last year you’ve been on tour for the first time in Japan. Can you talk a
bit ‘of this experience? What differences have you noticed between their
“scene” and the Italian / European? Are there Japanese bands to
advise us of that you particularly liked?
[AM] – It was one of the best trips of my life and for sure if I hadn’t gone withManges, I doubt I’d have ever been able to afford it. The Japanese scene is
definitely lively and well organized, not huge but we as headliners had small
venes always full and that is more than enough. I didn’t know much about Japan
so I thought it was more “globalized”, I actually learned that they
have their own culture and it is very strong, so they watch with care and
passion to the West, music and style, but always filtered by the point of view
of a world very different from ours. Staying there is a surprise and a continuous
absurdity, and after my return it took me a lot to “shake off” that
journey. The groups “to the Ramones” are those with whom we played
more times, SoCho Pistons, Idaho Rainys,Disgusteens, Kingons … there are a
lot good. The most beautiful evening was that for their Ramones Fan Club. We
only played Ramones covers… and it was a success.[A] – In recent years you have worked as a producer with Kill That Girl, Teenage
Bubblegums and with The Ponches. How do you get in this unusual position behind
the scenes? Do you think that there might be a future for you in this role?[AM] – I produced Kill That Girl and Teenage Bubblegums and I believe both have done
great albums so I think I’ve worked well although I’m not very experienced in
that role. Yes, The Poncheswere recorded by Alex but artistically were
produced by themselves. I gave him a hand, a few tips, wrote lyrics and sang a
little bit. It was an honor. I would love if I could do it again, but it takes
time to dedicate to certain things, and it is not possible to do it for work, I
will choose to use the time for Manges or in case the Veterans. Then, if the
opportunity to work with other groups will happen again, I will see.[A]
– What are the discs you’re listening to the most? For many they are the
coolest group in recent years .. and to others they suck: one thing is certain,
the Masked Intruder are the most talked-about of the moment, what do you think?
[AM] – I listen to a lot of old stuff and a little of punk. Masked Intruder aren’t
really a hit to me, indeed. I think they are a good band, nothing special, more
than anything else I do not understand why everyone is freaked out for them.
Oh, that’s okay.

[A] – As usual with our guests, we ask a question about the Ramones. Imagine
being a teenager again, but you know a girl but is a great sinner and does not
know the Ramones (“Who are them? Ah, I thought it was a company that makes meatballs, sauces and icecreams! If I’m not mistaken I also saw a shirt from H&M “). You are then offered to fix her a cd (or rather a tape) to win
her heart and fill this serious gap. What would be the ideal track-list?
[AM] – Even as a teenager, however, I liked girls who already knew who the Ramones
were! If you really have no idea it is impossible to explain from scratch the
whole history and philosophy. You’d better go along and say, “Yes, those
of the meat sauce, come to dinner that we make Marky’s spaghetti sauce”
True, however, we used to make mix tapes, CDs not yet. Too difficult now to
make a tracklist, but I can tell you that among the romantic pieces I was crazy
for “She Belongs To Me”, the pop one of Animal Boy“. Surely it would
have had that.

[A]
– Before concluding the interview and asking the last questions, we would
like to thank you for being so kind and helpful to us! Do you have any news to
give us a preview of? Do you think if we start a campaign Musicraiser we will
lead, someday, to having Screeching Weasel play in Italy? 🙂[AM] – Hey thanks to you! We have nothing for sure but like I said, we are writing a
new album so I hope something happens later! At the very least go to record!
Then we are setting some dates in Italy and abroad for autumn but nothing
confirmed yet. The SW I hope that sooner or later will be … we have always
said to Ben Weasel that we are many who want to see them here.